Officials at AZO in Kalamazoo, Michigan have been awaiting for the FAA portion funding to be approved. Now that this has been achieved construction should begin today. The plans for the new terminal are visable on the airports web site:

This project like other airport projects of this size take a long time to get going as you can imagine because of the necessary planning and funding. It could also be noted that the majority of the airline airport terminals in Michigan will have been completely replaced in the last several years. Those that I know of are: DTW, FNT, TVC, MBL, PLN, MBS-Soon to be, AZO-In progress.

Good for AZO. I've flown in there a couple of times for the International Congress of Medieval Studies at Western Michigan U. The existing airport isn't really overcrowded except in the baggage area, and probably at security at rush hours (I departed on Saturday evenings, so lines were short). The second carousel and additional an additional security lane will no doubt be very helpful. The old terminal is worn and tired-looking, and the new facility will no doubt be much nicer. It looks like AZO has a good chunk of Federal funding lined up so they hopefully won't need to raise their fees to pay for it.

Sad to see AZO down to only two network carriers and a 'scheduled-charter' carrier. Current NWA online timetable shows only regional a/c, no DC-9's. The first time I flew in there in 2007, UA and DL regional affiliates were still there. And I flew on a DC-9-50 that no doubt had worn Herman on its tail. Hopefully better days will return for AZO.

Just keep the rental-car pickup and return as convenient as it is now--the most convenient of any airport I've flown into!

Quoting CALMSP (Reply 3):it wont. I am very surprised that they are moving forward with this.

Such a bright and cheery response. LOL Sometimes you have to go ahead and plan for the future. The industry may suck the next couple of years, but if you aren't ready for the next up turn...then you'll be left behind. And who knows, there are more things behind closed doors that we never know about.

It's kind of hard to tell in the pics, but is the new terminal going to be built next to the existing building closer to 17/35? Good for AZO to think ahead. I just hope they don't price themselves out of the market, where airlines won't be able to make flying there profitable.

Quoting Azjubilee (Reply 5):It's kind of hard to tell in the pics, but is the new terminal going to be built next to the existing building closer to 17/35? Good for AZO to think ahead. I just hope they don't price themselves out of the market, where airlines won't be able to make flying there profitable.

Yeah, there building it right next to the current one, so closer to 17/35.

That terminal looks nice. In fact, it looks almost exactly like the new terminal (built 2001) at Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) but smaller as BMI has a pier that extends outward. I wonder if the same architecture firm did both?

Quoting Ouboy79 (Reply 4):Sometimes you have to go ahead and plan for the future. The industry may suck the next couple of years, but if you aren't ready for the next up turn...then you'll be left behind.

Exactly, in 1991 when Eastern shut down ATL idled Concourse C. At the same time, ATL continued with the plans of the International terminal. Positioning themselves quite well for today.

I'm not saying AZO is an ATL; there are consequences to halting rationale progress.